British and French officials have agreed on a deal to end disputes regarding the rights to scallop fishing in an area in the English Channel.

British authorities said late on Wednesday that representatives from Britain and France had reached an agreement on the principles of a deal over the scallop fishing in the Baie de Seine area.

“An agreement on the principles of a deal has been reached ... The UK and French fishing industries and governments held constructive talks today about scallop fishing in the eastern Channel including Baie de Seine,” read a joint statement issued by the Britain’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Presstv Reported.

The agreement comes after clashes last month in Baie de Seine between fishermen from both countries. The French fishermen, who are banned from operating in certain areas off the Normandy region during the summer, have accused the British rivals, who have restricted freedom to operate, of unfairly catching scallops in the area.

British authorities had earlier defended the rights of their small boats to fish in Baie de Seine based on a previous agreement. However, they offered an olive branch after the French Navy warned that it would intervene to restore security to its waters.

The agreement on Baie de Seine comes amid Britain’s efforts to protect fishing and access to waters for its fishermen once it leaves the European Union in March.

Sources said British and French authorities agreed in their meeting in London to renew a 2017 agreement involving British vessels 15 meters and over. They said the British side agreed to compensate France on a reasonable basis for the activities of its under-15-meter vessels for scallop fishing in the Baie de Seine. A final agreement on boats of less than 15 meters would be finalized in Paris on Friday, they said.